Individual Details

General Notes: Charles Wesley Thorne farmed at Corn Ridge and was the longest surviving member of the Melancthon and Annie (Perry) Thorne family. He was predeceased by all of his children except Dora, wife of Cameron Dunfield. In 1899 in a report printed in the St. John Globe on the 1st of May of that year (p. 4) the Charles Thorne family were at the centre of a serious community scandal. In an article entitled "A Kings County Sensation" reprinted from the Moncton Transcript, the Globe reports "A young man named Thomas Chapman of Corn Ridge, has been committed to Hampton jail on the serious charge of rape. The circumstances appear to be these: A girl named Nina Church, aged 16 years, has been living with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thorne, a well-to-do farmer and wife, at Corn Ridge. On Thursday, March 23, the girl was sent by Mrs. Thorne with a basket to Mrs. Dunfield's about two miles away. Nina took a short cut across the fields, and in doing so, was seen by Thomas Chapman aged 19 years, the son of James Chapman, a neighbour. He also cut across the fields and intercepted her in a hollow at the rear of the farm and about a mile distant from any habitation. According to the girl's testimony, the accused committed a criminal assault, despite her forcible resistance. She then took the basket to Mrs. Dunfield's house, and returning home, immediately told her mistress, Mrs. Thorne, of this occurrence. On March 27, the Thornes went to Havelock with the girl, and an information was laid and a warrant issued by Justice Oswald N. Price for young Chapman's arrest. The boy kept himself concealed, but on Sunday, April 23, ventured to church in the schoolhouse near by. Constable Gilbert Thorne was immediately warned, and proceeding to the meeting house, arrested young Chapman. On Monday of last week he was brought before Justice Price, and the investigation occupied two days. Mr. R. F. Keith represented the prosecution, and Coun. S. C. Alward the defendant. The witnesses were Nina Church and Mr. and Mrs. Thorne. The testimony was along the lines narrated above. The prisoner pleaded "not guilty", but was committed for trial and taken to Hampton. An effort is now being made to secure his release." Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thorne stood behind their young servant girl despite the popularity of the Chapman family in the community. [Thorne Book]

Birth	24 Sep 1831	New Canaan, Brunswick Parish, Queens County, New Brunswick
Marriage	7 May 1868	Saint John, City of Saint John Parish, Saint John County, New Brunswick - MARGARET ELIZABETH COATES
Death	8 Sep 1920	Mannhurst, Havelock Parish, Kings County, New Brunswick
Burial		Pine Grove Cemetery, Corn Hill, Kings County, New Brunswick

Spouse	MARGARET ELIZABETH COATES (1846 - 1910)
Child	WILLIAM M. THORNE (1869 - 1914)
Child	DORA ALMA THORNE (1871 - 1935)
Child	LILA ROSE THORNE (1871 - 1872)
Child	E. BEATRICE THORNE (1872 - 1914)
Child	MARGARET (MAGGIE) THORNE (1877 - 1880)
Child	CHARLES IRVINE THORNE (1879 - 1913)

Father	MELANCKTHUN WOOLSEY THORNE (1805 - 1882)
Mother	MEHETABLE ANN PERRY (1808 - 1883)
Sibling	MARY ANN THORNE (1828 - 1828)
Sibling	RICHARD THORNE (1830 - 1905)
Sibling	ABRAHAM H. THORNE (1833 - 1899)
Sibling	MEHETABLE THORNE (1835 - 1907)
Sibling	ISAAC THORNE (1836 - 1912)
Sibling	PHOEBE ANN THORNE (1839 - 1847)
Sibling	PERMELIA THORNE (1841 - 1907)
Sibling	JACOB THORNE (1845 - 1938)
Sibling	DAVID THORNE (1847 - 1910)